Newbie question

[72kat]

72 c10 350/350.
I bought a refurbished tilt column from a guy on here a couple years ago. My buddy that was working with me on installing it, right after we got it installed. Well, I went to start up the truck after sitting for 2 years. yes, I checked the fluids and put some gas in the carb. Twisted the key and nothing. No sound, nada. Battery was from 2015 so I bought a new ACDelco battery (ouch), installed it. Cables are good and clean. Twisted the key and nothing. I check the battery and its good. horn and other things work.

The horseshoe shaped connector on the column is plugged in correctly.
How do I start troubleshooting this problem?

thanks.

[pjmoreland]

It could be an issue with the neutral safety switch that's mounted on the steering column near the firewall. Did you plug the two connectors into it? Could also be that the switch needs to be adjusted, or your shift linkage might need to be adjusted. Is the shift indicator pointing at P?

[mr48chev]

It is pretty common for the Tab on the neutral switch that sticks down in the shft tube on the column to break off and then the switch doesn't move to Park, neutral or reverse (for the backup light)

Turn the key on and put it in reverse and see if the backup lights work. If they do move the lever a click either way and see if they go out and then the switch should have moved so the truck will start. Then it is check the switch or dig out the test light to make sure you have power to the switch on the start circuit power wire to the switch.

[franken]

Measure the battery voltage to the nearest tenth.
Measure the voltage at the solenoid S-terminal with the key in the start position.
Make sure the trans is in park. Jump the solenoid big terminal to the S-terminal.